Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Food, NYC


The restaurant at Astor's swanky St. Regis Hotel, c. 1905
"God! The restaurants! 
New York has become the Florence of the Sixteenth Century. 
Genius on every corner." 
                                                    -Six Degrees of Separation

"No city in the world is better supplied with restaurants and eating-houses of every kind than New York." This observation in the 1896 edition of Rand McNally and Co's Handy Guide to New York City, Brooklyn, Staten Island, and Other Suburbs is true today. The city's reputation as a food lover's paradise is well earned. From street food to fine dining, the available fare reflects the very city itself in its diversity and energy.

Friday, November 2, 2012

Storm Clouds






Words are difficult to come by after witnessing the devastation brought on by Hurricane Sandy. In the wake of that storm, it is hard to imagine the losses, suffering, and tragedies endured by so many along the east coast. Looking down the long path to the days and weeks and years to come, and the tremendous efforts to rebuild--and perhaps reconfigure--New York, it is tempting to harness the power of the cliches: New York, New Jersey, and all the areas affected by the storm will rebuild and be stronger and better than ever; Americans are resilient and come together to help each other in the face of tragedy.